A portion of River Road in Ama could be closed for several more hours

A portion of ADM Growmark's grain elevator conveyor belt in Ama has collapsed, and St. Charles Parish officials have closed a stretch of River Road for several miles as a precautionary measure, according to the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center. The collapsed portion of the conveyor belt was near the river bank.

BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES-PICAYUNEA portion of a grain elevator conveyor belt lies across the Mississippi River levee in Ama after collapsing Friday, February 17, 2012. St. Charles Parish officials have closed Louisiana 18 at the ADM Growmark grain elevator as a precautionary measure, according to the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center.

Sheriff's deputies are on scene helping with traffic, but authorities say the road could be closed well into the evening hours.

The road was closed shortly after 1 p.m. as a precautionary measure after the conveyor belt apparently collasped.